The proposed widening of Fort Howard Road could take place soon, after Rincon City Council members approved a contract for the work.

Council members voted Monday night to approve a $2.66 million contract with Seaboard Construction for widening and other improvements along Fort Howard Road.

“Fort Howard Road is a pretty busy road,” said Tim Baumgartner, Rincon’s engineer.

Engineers and city officials explored taking the road from two lanes to four lanes and at a third lane. The work will involve installing a third lane that will allow vehicles to turn left on Fort Howard Road without impeding the flow of traffic, Baumgartner said.

“It should help with making it safer,” he said.

Rincon Fire Chief Corey Rahn said an accident along Fort Howard Road last week had traffic backed up from Willowpeg Way to Highway 21. Now, with the third lane, drivers will have a place to pull over to allow emergency vehicles to pass.

“It’s a much needed project,” he said.

Work, once it starts, should be done in about 300 days along the 2.5-mile stretch of road.

As part of the project, the city will put in sidewalks along Fort Howard Road to the city limits. The deep, open ditches alongside Fort Howard Road will be piped and covered.

Four firms put in bids on the project, with bids ranging from $2.66 million-$3 million. Seaboard performed the work at the Highway 21-McCall Road intersection south of Rincon and also has done work in Bryan and Chatham counties. Original estimates for the work came in at $2.5 million.

Completion of the turn lane into St. Andrews Road from Fort Howard came in under budget, according to Baumgartner.

“It turned out well,” said Rincon Mayor Ken Lee.

Weather pushed completion of the St. Andrews turn lane back a day but it was $2,300 under budget.